Safety guard for power presses



p 1939- A. M. FRANDSEN SAFETY GUARD FOR POWER PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1938 IIIII 5-51-5555 SeptfS, 1939.

A. M. FRANDSEN 2,171,523

SAFETY GUARD FOR POWER PRES-SE5 Filed June 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1939. A, M, FR NDSEN 2,171,523

SAFETY GUARD FOR POWER PRESSES Filed June 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i g I'l f l" 4Z5 5 Iii I Q 47 76 9 j M fizz/@722 Wz'fn 5 2) rarzaerz,

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,171,523 SAFETY GUARD FOR POWER PRESSES Anton M. Frandsen, Chicago, Ill, Application June 24, 1938, Serial No. 215,645

10 Claims. (Cl. 74615) The invention relates to safety guards for parts herein shown and described and more parpower presses, and other machinery, operable to ticularly pointed out in the claims. prevent injury to the operator, and more particu- In the drawings wherein like reference charlarly it relates to devices actuated by the plunger acters indicate like or corresponding parts and of a power press or by ather suitable reciprocally wherein the invention is illustrated as installed 5 moving parts of a machine to automatically act upon a power press; to push the operators hands or arms out of Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the the danger zone as such plunger or moving part guard extended in front of the press with the i mo d to ard the o k, plunger of the press approaching its work con- One of the objects of the invention is the protacting position; 10 vision of an improved lazy-tongs safety guard for Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with the plunga press or machine of the kind described and of er in elevated position and with the guard in an improved actuating mechanism therefor inter completely collapsed position; mittently engageable by the plunger of the press Fig. 3 is a View along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

5 and positively actuated thereby to extend the Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the guard while guard and permit its collapse without stopping in collapsed position with the plunger moving the press or machine or materially interfering upwardly and approaching a position wherein it with the operator in working at the press. will disengage he guard actuating mechanism; The invention is especially adapted for instal- Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively views along the lation on relatively slowly moving power presses lines 55 and 66 of Fig. 4; and 20 which require considerable time to reciprocate the Fig. 7 is a view along the line 1-1 of Fig. 1. plunger through one cycle of operation, and an- Referring now more particularly to the drawother object of the invention is the provision of ings, the numeral l0 generally designates a lazyimproved guard actuating mechanism so operable tongs frame and the numeral l I generally desigas to maintain or to permit the guard to he hates a stationary press frame providing guides 25 maintained in retracted position throughout a or runways for an ascending and descending cycle of operations except for a relatively brief plunger l2 actuated by hydraulic power or other period when the plunger or other reciprocally suitable means, not shown. A bed plate l3 promoving part is approaching and in proximity to vides a support for a stationary die l4 posithe work, the guard being automatically moved tioned below a die 15 carried by the plunger I2. 30 to and locked in its protecting position so as The front of the press is open above the plate [3 to cover the work space only during this brief to permit the operator to position work on the period and being automatically released to perstationary die 14 and to maniplate the work for mit its retraction when the plunger or other proper engagement by the descending die I5.

moving part contacts with the work. The guard I0 is mounted on the press frame H 35 A further object of the invention is the proas hereinafter described and is so positioned that vision of an improved self-operating safety guard extension of the gua eps the hands and of the kind described which increases the potenarms of the operator aside and momentarily tial output of the press by permitting continuous prevents access to the work.

operation and enabling the operator to give his The lazy-tongs frame it comprises a plurality 40 entire time and attention to the material on f pairs of intersecting bars 16 of substantially which the press is operating. equal length arranged to form a collapsible lat- A still further object of the invention is the Construction The Comprising each provision of improved safety guards and actuat pairare connected at the1r intersecting points inc mechanism therefor which are durable, by plvots H 1 are snmlafly connected at their simple and inexpensive to manufacture and inlower pends wlth h adlacent f Thg upper stall and which are satisfactory for their in- {and of each bar connected i the next a tend d purpose Jacentbar by a pivot it of special construction Many other objects and advantages of the con provldmg fsupports for fine guard as heremafter struction herein shown and described will be 3 f f gf gi g t ggg ig 5? g i obvious to those skilled in the art from the disjecting downwardly a substantial distance below closu e herein giventhe lattice construction and connected with the To this end my invention consists in the novel adjacent pair of bars It by intersecting bars 20 construction, arrangement and combination of and ii, the latter being connected at their inter- 55 secting point by a pivot I"! to form an extension of the collapsible lattice work. The bar is similar to the bars l6 and is connected with the adjacent bar |6 by a pivot l1 and with the upper end of the vertical bar |9 by a pivot |8. The upper end of the bar 2| is also connected with the adjacent bar l6 by the pivot I8 and is connected at its lower end with the bar I!) by means of a pivot pin or bolt 22 slidable in a slot 23 provided by the bar I9. The described connection of the bar IS with the lattice work maintains the bar vertical for all positions of collapse or extension of the guard and adapts the bar to sweep aside the arms or hands of an operator by the movement of the guard to extended position.

The other end of the guard comprises a stationary vertical bar 24 connected with the adjacent bars I6 by intersecting bars 25 and 26. The bar 25 is connected at its lower end with the adjacent bar l6 and at its point of intersection with the bar 26 by a pivot H, and is also connected at its upper end with the bar 24 by means of a pivot Ill. The lower end of the bar 26 is connected with the vertical bar 24 by a pin or bolt 21 slidab-le in a slot '28 provided by the bar 214. The upper end of the bar 26 is connected by a pivot l8 with the adjacent end of the bar l6. The bar 24 is'fixedly fastened to and supported by the press frame I l by means of a bracket 29 suitably mounted on the frame and connected with the bar by a bolt 39.

The guard I0 is supported by a track extending across the press and connected with the opposite sides of the press frame The track comprises a member 3| having a longitudinal recess 32 overlapped by a pair of bars 33 fastened to the member 3| by counter-sunk screws 34. Spacer members 35 having threaded stems on each end provide supports for the track, one threaded end of each member being connected with the vpress frame H and the other threaded end extending through the track member 3| and providing a nut 36 clamped against the track bars 33 and adapted to hold the track member in position.

The pivots l8 at the top of the guard frame l0 are each threadedly connected with cylindrical guide members 31 positioned in the track recess 32. The outer ends of the members 3! are offset as shown so as to be moved freely in the space between the bars 33 as the frame II] is extended and retracted, the frame being supported by contact of the members with the bottom wall of the recess 32.

The guard frame I0 is illustrated and hereinafter described as retracted and normally maintained in retracted position by the action of a compression spring 38 carried by a rod 39 slidably mounted in a guide member 43 mounted on the track member and fixedly connected therewith by the adjacent spacer member 35. The guard frame bar 26 projects upwardly as shown to provide a lever operable to extend and to collapse the frame. The end of the rod 39 adjacent to the bar 26 is forked and connected with the bar by a pivot 4|. The other end of the rod 39 provides a shoulder member 42 against which one end of the spring 38 abuts, and the opposite end of the spring 38 abuts the fixed guide member 40, the spring being compressed and adapted thereby to maintain the guard frame In in the retracted position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and to yield to permit extension of the frame.

Extension of the guard frame ID to the position shown in Fig. 1 is positively and automatically accomplished by means of a toggle mechanism operatively connected with the upwardly projecting end of the bar 26. The toggle mechanism comprises bars 43, 44, and 45 pivotally connecting the bar 26 with a standard 46 rigidly mounted on the track member 3|. One end of the bar 43 is connected with the bar 39 and with the bar 26 by the pivot 4| and the other end of the bar 43 is connected with the bar 44 by means of a pivot 41 carrying a roller 48 adapted to ride on the top of the track member 3|, the roller being provided with a tapering flanged edge 49. A pivot 50 carrying a roller 5| provides a toggle connection for the upper ends of the bars 44 and 45, the lower end of the bar 45 being con nected to the standard 46 by a pivot 52. The described connection of the toggle bars with the spring controlled rod 39 by means of the pivot 4| results in the bars being normally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A cam member 53, carried by the press plunger i2, is

positioned to engage the roller 5| carried by the toggle mechanism and as the plunger approaches its work engaging position, actuates said mechanism to extend the guard frame I 3 and to lock the frame in extended position until the downward stroke of the plunger is completed. The cam member 53 is mounted on a bracket 54 fixedly connected with the plunger |2 by means of bolts 55. The member 53 is fastened to the bracket 54 and adjustable vertically by means of a plurality of screw bolts 56 arranged in two parallel vertical rows having their heads positioned in corresponding recesses 51 provided in the front face of the member. The cam member 53 and the bracket 54 are correspondingly recessed to receive a key 58, the bolts 56 and the key being adapted to hold the member against lateral movement in any adjusted position. The lower end of the member 53 is bounded by a relatively long inclined cam face 59 and a relatively short transversely extending cam face 60 positioned to engage the roller 5| as the plunger moves toward the work. A projection 6| is provided on the lower left hand portion of the cam member 53 as observed in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the projection being bounded by the cam face 60 and by an inclined cam face 92.

The adjustable mounting of the cam member 53 adapts it to be shifted vertically so that extension of the guard frame I9 will be accom plished at different stages of the downward movement of the plunger|2 in accordance with variations in die thickness and of the work being operated upon. For example, for relatively thin dies I4 and I5 and for relatively thin work, the

cam member 53 is elevated and for relatively thick dies and work, the member 531s correspondingly lowered so that extension of the frame I0 occurs only when the die I5 is in sufficiently close proximity to the work as to endanger the operator with the obvious advantage that the period of extension of the guard frame it is reduced to a minimum and starts only when necessary for protection of the operator.

The sequence of operations of the toggle mechanism is such that the cam member 53 cooperates with the roller 5| in a manner to extend the frame as described and then to release the toggle mechanism from engagement with the member and permit retraction of the frame H! by the spring 38 while the die I5 is in contact with the work or, if the spring is omitted, to permit retraction of the frame manually. Referring to Fig. 2 wherein the plunger I2 and the die I5 are at their maximum elevation, the downward stroke of the plunger moves the cam member 53 to bring X the cam .sface 60 into initial contact with the roller 45].. As the plunger continues its descent, the toggle bar 44 is moved to the right and the roller 5| rides off the cam face 69 and onto the inclined cam face 59. Continued descent of the plunger moves the toggle bars M and 45 to the position shown in Fig. l corresponding to the fully extended position of the guard frame l0. Further downward movement of the plunger causes the roller-5i to move to a position wherein it is engaged by the adjacent vertical face 53 of .the cam .member 53 and the frame I is thereby locked in fully extended position and remains so lockedwhile theplunger is traveling through the remainder of :its downward stroke. Continued downward movement of the cam. member 53 with the plunger 12 results in the roller disengaging the vertical cam face 63 on the instant or just prior to the plunger l2 reaching the end of its downward movement. The toggle mechanism being thereby released from operative engagement with the cam member 53, the frame it is automatically retracted to collapsed position by the action of the spring 38, the roller 5! being thereby swung above the cam member to its normal positionrelative to the collapsed fame, shown in dotted lines in Fig, 1, and in this position the roller is in vertical alignment with and above the cam projection 'Bl. Upward movement of the plunger I2 causes the cam member 53 to move alongside and to engage the roller 5| with the inclined camface 62 whereby the roller rides over said face to the position shown in Fig. 4, and tilts the toggle mechanism about the pivot 52. Continued elevation of the .plunger l2 disengages the cam projection 6i and the roller 5| whereupon thetoggle mechanism drops back to normal position wherein the roller'48 rests on the track mem her 3! and the roller 5i is positioned below, and will be operatively engaged by the cam face 30 as. the plunger again descends. The tapered flange 49 of the roller 48 serves as a guide to properly position the roller on the track member 3| and to align the toggle mechanism with the member as it moves by gravity from its elevated position following disengagement of the roller 5| and the cam projection 61.

The suspension of the latticed guard frame 69 from the track, 'by the guide members 31 as described, enables the frame to be easily extended and collapsed since there is no binding of the lattice bars at their pivoted connections as is the casew'ith a frame supported as a cantilever. The frame Hi can be made of any desired length by varying the movement of the bars iii to suit the particular installation and in any given installation, the width of the cam member 53 and the length and inclination of the toggle bars. 44 and l5 will depend upon the required extension, it being understood that the width of the cam, members and the sweep of the toggle mechanism will be greater for relatively long frames than for those that are relatively short. The adjustment vertically of the position of. the cam member 53 on the plunger 12 also adapts any particular frame for use with presses utilizing a variety of dies. l4 and i5 ofdiiferent depths.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an improved safety guard and actuating means therefor for use with power presses and the like having'a reciprocating plunger or work forming part, the'guard being suitable for installation on presses or machines of a great variety of sizes and shapes and which is automatically extended by the reciprocating member as it approaches the work and the frame being released for retraction either manually or by a resilient member, upon the instant that the plunger contacts with the work, whereby the frame is in extended position only when the operation of the press or machine is hazardous to the operator.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is:

l. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, mechanism movable to extend and collapse the frame, a resilient member tending to maintain the mechanism in the collapsed position of the frame, and a cam member carried by the plunger of the press so positioned as to operatively engage and actuate said mechanism to extend the frame and lock the frame in extended position as the plunger approaches its work engaging position, said cam member being released from operative engagement with said mechanism upon final movement of the plunger to its work engaging position to permit said resilient member to actuate said mechanism to collapse the frame.

2. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, a cam member carried by the plunger of the press, and mechanism operable to extend the frame, said frame being normally collapsed and said mechanism being normally positioned in the path of the cam member when the frame is collapsed, said cam member being positioned to operatively engage and actuate said mechanismv in a direction to extend and to maintain the frame in extended position as the plunger approaches its work engaging position, said cam member being moved to operatively disengage said mechanism upon movement of the plunger to its work engaging position.

3. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, mechanism operable to extend and collapse the frame, a resilient member tending to maintain the mechanism in the collapsed position of the frame, and a cam member carried by the plunger of the press, said frame being normally collapsed and said mechanism being normally positioned in the path of the cam member when the frame is collapsed, said cam member being positioned to operatively engage and actuate said mechanism in a direction to extend and to maintain the frame in ex tended position as the plunger approaches its work engaging position, said cam member being released from operative engagement with said mechanism upon movement of the plunger to its work engaging position and thereby permitting said resilient member to collapse the frame and return the mechanism toits normal position.

4. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, a cam member carried by the plunger of the press, toggle mechanism operable to extend the frame, said frame being normally collapsed and said mechanism being normally positioned in the path of the cam member when the frame is collapsed, said cam member being so positioned that it operatively engages and actuates said toggle mechanism in a direction to extend and to maintain the frame in extended position only as the plunger approaches 7- its final work engaging position, said cam member being moved to operatively disengage said mechanism upon movement of the plunger to its full work engaging position, and means operable to collapse the extended frame and to return the mechanism to said normal position upon said disengagement of the cam member, movement of the plunger away from its work engaging position being adapted to carry the cam member past said mechanism and in passing to thrust the mechanism out of its path in a direction such that the frame is not extended thereby.

5. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, a cam member carried by the plunger of the press, toggle mechanism operable to extend the frame, said frame being normally collapsed and said mechanism being normally positioned in the path of the cam member when the frame is collapsed, said cam member being so positioned that it operatively engages and actuates said mechanism to extend and to maintain the frame in extended position during final movement of the plunger to its work engaging position, said cam member operatively disengaging said mechanism upon the plunger reaching its full work engaging position, means operable to collapse the extended frame and to return the mechanism to said normal position upon its said disengagement with the cam member, said mechanism being tiltable from its normal position without actuating the frame, movement of the plunger away from its work engaging position being adapted to carry the cam member past said mechanism and in passing to tilt the mechanism out of its path in a direction such that the frame is not extended thereby, said mechanism being returned by gravity to its said normal position upon its disengagement with said upwardly moving cam member.

6. A guard for a power press comprising an extensible and collapsible frame, a cam member carried by the plunger of the press, toggle mechanism positioned in the path of the cam member and operable thereby to extend the frame, said mechanism being normally positioned in the path of the cam member when the frame is collapsed, said cam member being so positioned that it operatively engages and actuates said mechanism to extend and to maintain the frame in extended position only when the plunger is closely ap proaching its work engaging position, said cam member being moved to disengage said mechanism when the plunger has reached its work engaging position, means operable to collapse the extended frame and to return the mechanism to said normal position upon its disengagement with the cam member, and a pivot about which said mechanism is tiltably movable from said normal position, movement of the plunger away from'its work engaging position being adapted to carry the cam member past said mechanism and in passing to tilt the mechanism out of its path, said mechanism being returned by gravity to its normal position when the cam member has moved beyond the mechanism.

7. The combination with a power press or the like providing a stationary frame and a plunger movable vertically in said frame, of a cam member mounted on and projecting from one face of the plunger, said cam member having two opposite lateral edges respectively bounded by vertical faces, a cam projection at the lower edge of one of said vertical faces, said projection being bounded by a horizontal bottom face and an inclined face connecting said bottom face with the contiguous vertical face, said cam member being bounded by an inclined bottom face connecting said horizontal bottom face with the vertical face opposite said projection, a lazy tongs frame extending alongside the path of said cam member with one end fastened to the stationary frame on the side contiguous to said cam projection, an inverted V-shaped toggle mechanism comprising two links having their lower ends respectively pivotally connected with the stationary frame and the lazy tongs frame, a pivot connecting the upper ends of said links, a. roller mounted on said pivot so positioned that it lies in the path of said cam projection when the lazy tongs frame is retracted, said roller being below the cam member when the plunger is at the beginning of its downward stroke and being above said cam member when the plunger is at the end of its downward stroke, said roller being initially engaged by the horizontal face of the cam projection as the plunger approaches the end of its descent, the roller being moved thereby in turn over said horizontal and inclined bottom faces to extend the lazy tongs frame, and while completing its descent the cam member moves with its contiguous vertical face in contact with the roller to temporarily lock the lazy tongs frame in extended position, said cam member being disengaged from the roller upon completion of its descent to permit retraction of the lazy tongs frame, and means operable to retract said frame and mechanism accompanied by movement of the roller above the cam member to a position above said cam projection.

8. The combination with a power press or the like providing a stationary frame and a plunger movable vertically in said frame, of a cam mem ber mounted on and projecting from one face of the plunger, said cam member having two opposite lateral edges respectively bounded by vertical fac'es, a cam projection at the lower edge of one of said vertical faces bounded by a horizontal bottom face and an inclined face connecting said bottom face with the contiguous vertical face, said cam member being bounded by an inclined bottom face connecting said horizontal bottom face with the vertical face bounding the lateral edge opposite said projection, a lazy tongs frame extendig alongside the path of said cam member having one end fastened to the stationary frame on the side contiguous to said cam projection, an inverted V-shaped toggle mechanism comprising two links having their lower ends respectively pivotally connected with the stationary frame and the lazy tongs frame, a pivot connecting the upper ends of said links, a roller mounted on one end of said pivot and in the path of said cam projection when the lazy tongs frame is retracted, said roller being below the cam member when the plunger is at the beginning of its downward stroke and being above said cam member when the plunger'is at the end of its downward stroke, said cam member being so positioned that the roller is initially engaged by the horizontal face of the cam projection as the plunger approaches the end of its descent and the roller is moved thereby in turn over said horizontal and inclined bottom faces to extend the lazy tongs frame and while completing its descent the cam member moves with its contiguous vertical face, in contact with the roller to temporarilylock the lazy tongs frame in extended position, said cam member being disengaged from the roller upon completion of its descent to permit retraction of the lazy tongs frame, means operable to retract the lazy tongs frame and mechanism accompanied by movement of the roller above the cam member to overlie the cam projection, and means for permitting adjustment of the position of the cam member on the plunger.

9. The combination with a power press or the like providing a stationary frame and a plunger movable vertically in said frame, of a cam member mounted on and projecting from one face of the plunger, said cam member having two opposite lateral edges respectively bounded by vertical faces, a cam projection at the lower edge of one of said vertical faces bounded by a horizontal bottom face and an inclined face connecting said bottom face with the contiguous vertical face, said cam member being bounded by an inclined bottom face connecting said horizontal bottom face with the vertical face bounding the lateral edge opposite said projection, a lazy tongs frame extending alongside the path of said cam member having one end fastened to the stationary frame on the side contiguous to said cam projection, a track member providing a support for the lazy tongs frame in all positions of extension and retraction, an inverted V-shaped toggle mechanism comprising two links, one having its lower end pivotally connected with the stationary frame and the other having its lower end swingably connected with the lazy tongs frame, a pivot connecting the upper ends of said links, a roller mounted on a projecting end of said pivot, and in vertical alignment with said cam projection when the lazy tongs frame is retracted, said roller being below the cam member when the plunger is at the beginning of its downward stroke and being above said cam member when the plunger is at the end of its downward stroke whereby the roller is initially engaged by the horizontal face of the cam projection as the plunger approaches the end of its descent and the roller is moved thereby in turn over said horizontal and inclined bottom faces to extend the lazy tongs frame and while completing its descent the cam member moves with its contiguous vertical face in contact with the roller to temporarily lock the lazy tongs frame in extended position, said cam member being disengaged from the roller upon completion of its descent to permit retraction of the lazy tongs frame and toggle mechanism accompanied by movement of the roller above the cam member into vertical alignment with the cam projection whereby said projection engages the roller as it ascends and tilts the mechanism to permit movement of the cam member back to its elevated position, and means operable to retract the lazy tongs frame.

10. The combination with a power press or the like providing a stationary frame and a plunger movable vertically in said frame, of a cam member mounted on and projecting from one face of the plunger, said cam member having two opposite lateral edges respectively bounded by vertical faces, a cam projection at the lower edge of one of said vertical faces bounded by a horizontal bottom face and an inclined face connecting said bottom face with the contiguous vertical face, said cam member being bounded by an inclined bottom face connecting said horizontal bottom face with the vertical face bounding the lateral edge opposite said projection, a lazy tongs frame extending alongside the path of said cam member having one end fastened to the stationary frame on the side contiguous to said cam projection, a track member providing a support for the lazy tongs frame in all positions of extension and retraction, an inverted V-shaped toggle mechanism comprising two links one having its lower end pivotally connected with the stationary frame and the other having its lower end swingably connected with the lazy tongs frame, a pivot connecting the upper ends of said links, a roller mounted on a projecting end of said pivot, and in vertical alignment with said cam projection when the lazy tongs frame is retracted, said roller being below the cam member when the plunger is at the beginning of its downward stroke and being above said cam member when the plunger it at the end of its downward stroke whereby the roller is initially engaged by the horizontal face of the cam projection as the plunger approaches the end of its descent and the roller is moved thereby in turn over said horizontal and inclined bottom faces to extend the lazy tongs frame and while completing its descent the cam member moves with its contiguous vertical face in contact with the roller to temporarily lock the lazy tongs frame in extended position, said cam member being disengaged from the roller upon completion of its descent to permit retraction of the lazy tongs frame and toggle mechanism accompanied by movement of the roller above the cam member into vertical alignment with the cam projection whereby said projection engages the roller as it ascends and tilts the mechanism to permit movement of the cam member back to its elevated position, means operable to retract the lazy tongs frame, and means for permitting adjustment of the position of said cam member on said plunger to vary the point at which the cam member engages and disengages the roller.

ANTON M. FRANDSEN. 

